Archive for January, 2008

The First Wave of the World’s Collapsing Cities

The following table lists the world’s cities that are likely to collapse completely or partially by or before 2012¹ in the first wave of collapse. The collapse would be caused by a combination of environmental catastrophes; failing infrastructure; food, water and fuel shortages; infectious disease; civil conflict. Following the first phase of collapse, massive waves of human migration from the affected areas create domino effect that cause the collapse of the remaining population centers shortly after.

Surviving 2008, Year of the Expected Unknowns!

The New Year can only get as good as the state we left the old one in. Do you remember the state of 2007? This year would be remembered as Year of the Expected Unknowns, and judging by the state in which 2007 ended, 2008 would be the year where war, globalization, political economy and the legal limits to polluting the environment, as well as our ‘way-over-the-legal-limits’ lifestyles will prove our undoing. So, be advised, whatever can go wrong [over and above 2007] will begin going wrong, in 2008, in the worst possible way.

Will 2008 be the year when a major island is mostly submerged underwater by plate-tectonic forces?

Many more nasty ‘surprises’ and disastrous scenarios will unfold. One thing will be for certain, however, the crippling advantages of the ongoing mix of Pax Americana and Davos scenarios will reveal the depth and the devastation of the “Chain of Human-induced Disasters” scenario in 2008.

57 Billion People and Counting…

To the one half of the world who live on less than 2-dollars a day (they receive 300 times less per capita energy than the US citizens) the world must look extremely overpopulated with an effective population of 57 billion! [The EU27 with per capita GDP of $29,900 would account for 21 billion and the United States—per capita GDP of $43,223—for 18 billion of the total effective population.]

Seeding Socioeconomic Avalanches

The window of opportunity is rapidly closing. In the worst case scenario, which could unfold by as early as 2012, about 20 percent of the world’s cities become unsustainable and begin to collapse. Massive waves of human migration from the affected areas create a domino effect that could cause the collapse of most of the remaining population centers. It may be too late to reverse the final outcome; however, we still have the option to change the worst case scenario!

Note:
1. The date “2012” is based on the dynamic model simulations analyzing the environmental impact of excessive energy consumption. The CASF Committee and Members do NOT endorse Mayan Calendar or any New Age, ancient, or bible prophecies whatever.
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